You don’t have to be perfect to go to seminary. A call from God is not based on our own personal holiness, so we can still be called to be a priest and not be perfect. In fact, often God uses our own imperfections to show that He is the origin of the call. This does not mean it is OK to just live a mediocre life. Rather, God calls us all to become perfect as He is perfect. We are all called to a Vocation of Holiness. A man called to be a priest lives out the call to holiness in the specific vocation of the priesthood. The call we have, in a certain respect, is the mode by which God wants us to become holy. For more information read the section on Discerning the Priesthood and Seminary Formation.

No. When a man is attracted to women and marriage, it does not mean that he is not possibly called to the priesthood. Rather, it means that he has the natural attractions that every man should have. Marriage, and all that goes with it, are naturally good and may be part of God’s plan for you. If so, it will be written into the fabric of who you are.

If you are considering the priesthood in contrast to the vocation of marriage, you are considering two good choices. Many of the human qualities and virtues that are required to be a good husband and father are also those required of a good priest.

Every man should have the attraction to be a father and a husband, to make a gift of oneself and be fruitful. Those called by God to the priesthood fulfill these desires in a different way than those called to marriage.  When a man becomes celibate for the Kingdom of God, he sacrifices a natural good (marriage) for a supernatural reason (God and His Kingdom, and the salvation of souls). For more information read our section on The Priesthood or contact us.

Everyone gets lonely sometimes in life, but priests tend to have fewer times of loneliness than most people because priests spend most of their days being with people and relating to them in an intimate way. Priests live life fully and experience relationships with many people. Celibacy allows a priest to be available to all his people in a way that a married man is not able to be. Celibacy is a gift from God for those called to the priesthood, and those with that gift find great fulfillment in their deep relationship with God, and ability to serve his people with an undivided heart.

Loneliness and solitude are entirely different realities. Very often a priest gets to enjoy solitude in life when he spends time alone with God in prayer or enjoys down time from the business of everyday life. Priests enjoy a variety of fulfilling relationships and rich friendships.

The best way to find out more about the priesthood is to attend our discernment events, take our Scivias video course, and read our Becoming a Priest section of this site. You can also talk to a priest whom you know and trust. Another way to know more is to visit the seminary. In the Archdiocese of Boston there are three seminaries open to visit: Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary, Saint John Seminary, and Redemptoris Mater Seminary.

We do not have an age limit for entering seminary. While most of our seminarians are between the ages of 18 – 45, we accept men who are older, depending on their vocational calling and aptitude. We currently have such seminarians at Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary, in Weston, MA, which is dedicated uniquely to the preparation of seminarians 30 years of age and older responding to a call to priestly ministry. Meet The Seminarians

Currently there are more than 65 men studying for the Archdiocese of Boston at five different seminaries. To learn about our seminarians’ personal stories of discernment and life in seminary click here.

Currently, for those in Pre-Theology and Theology Programs, financial resources provided by the Archdiocese of Boston generally cover the following needs:

• Tuition

• Room and Board

• Health and Dental Insurance costs

• Some personal needs

For those seminarians in college seminary, the Archdiocese of Boston covers the Room and Board and Health and Dental Insurance costs. The cost of other expenses are generally covered by the seminarian or through funds available to those in need.

Yes, a man can enter seminary if he has student loan debt — it need not be an impediment to fulfilling his calling. The Vocation Office can assist those in need who are in the process of repayment.

Men from countries other than the United States who wish to apply to seminary for the Archdiocese of Boston must first live here and begin the process of discernment as outlined on our website. It is advised that they become an active member in a local parish community as a first step toward seeking to become a Boston seminarian.

Yes. Men who are originally from other parts of the country and who are presently in the Boston area for school, work, or other reasons are welcome to discern with us and apply if they are called. There are many priests who came to this area of the country and have made Boston their new home. If God is calling you to be a priest and you find yourself here in the Archdiocese of Boston, consider whether He is inviting you to serve here.